Legal
Terms & Conditions
Elements Surveying Group Limited
Effective date: 18 September 2026
1. About Us
Elements Surveying Group Limited ("Elements", "we", "us" or "our") provides asbestos surveying, inspection and bulk-sampling services. Our services include Asbestos Management Surveys, Refurbishment & Demolition Surveys, targeted refurbishment surveys, bulk sampling and asbestos re-inspections. Where samples are taken, they are analysed by a UKAS-accredited laboratory.
2. Application of These Terms
These Terms apply to quotations, instructions, bookings, surveys, inspections, sampling services, reports and associated professional services provided by Elements. By instructing us to proceed, confirming a booking, providing access to a property or otherwise permitting the instructed services to commence, the client confirms acceptance of these Terms. Any variation must be agreed by Elements in writing.
3. Quotations and Fixed Prices
Where Elements provides a fixed quotation, the quoted price applies to the agreed property, survey type and scope. Our "Fixed Prices. No Surprises." principle means that a confirmed fixed quotation will not subsequently be increased merely because additional reasonably necessary samples are identified during the agreed survey. A quotation may be revised where the client changes the agreed scope, supplies materially inaccurate or incomplete information, requests additional services or areas, or circumstances at the property materially differ from those upon which the quotation was based. Unless expressly stated otherwise, prices are exclusive of VAT.
4. Scope of Instruction
Our inspection and report are limited to the property, areas and purpose described in the agreed instruction. The client must provide sufficient and accurate information to enable Elements to understand the property and required scope. For Refurbishment & Demolition Surveys, the client should provide appropriate information regarding the proposed works wherever available so that the survey can be properly targeted. Elements is not responsible for areas or materials falling outside the agreed scope.
5. Property Access and Client Responsibilities
The client is responsible for ensuring that Elements has lawful and adequate access to all areas included within the agreed scope. Where the client is not the property owner, the client is responsible for obtaining the owner's, occupier's, managing agent's or other relevant party's authority for the survey and, where applicable, intrusive inspection and sampling. Where keys are to be collected from an estate agent, concierge, managing agent or other third party, the client is responsible for ensuring that appropriate authority and arrangements have been made for their release. Elements will take reasonable care of keys temporarily entrusted to us.
6. Survey Methodology
Asbestos surveys are undertaken with reference to HSE guidance HSG264 -- Asbestos: The Survey Guide and the agreed scope of instruction. Management Surveys are primarily intended to locate, as far as reasonably practicable, asbestos-containing materials that may be disturbed during normal occupation and routine maintenance. Refurbishment & Demolition Surveys are intrusive surveys intended to locate asbestos-containing materials within areas affected by the proposed works, subject to the agreed scope and access available. No survey can provide an absolute guarantee that every asbestos-containing material within a building has been identified.
7. Sampling and Laboratory Analysis
Where reasonably required within the agreed scope, representative samples of suspected asbestos-containing materials may be taken. Samples are analysed by a UKAS-accredited laboratory. Sampling involves minor disturbance or damage to the sampled material. Elements will take reasonable care when sampling but does not undertake decorative reinstatement, making-good or repair unless expressly agreed. Where a material cannot safely or reasonably be sampled, it may be recorded as presumed or strongly presumed asbestos-containing material where appropriate.
8. Access Restrictions and Inaccessible Areas
The effectiveness of an asbestos survey depends upon the degree of access available at the time of inspection. Areas may be excluded or access restricted because of locked rooms, fixed finishes, live electrical equipment, structural restrictions, unsafe conditions, height limitations, stored contents, occupied areas, services, inability to undertake destructive inspection, or other practical or safety constraints. The report will identify material limitations and areas that were not inspected where relevant. Unless subsequently inspected, inaccessible or excluded areas must not be assumed to be asbestos-free. Where refurbishment or demolition work may disturb an area that was not accessed, further investigation may be required before work proceeds.
9. Refurbishment & Demolition Surveys
R&D Surveys are based upon the proposed works and areas made available for intrusive inspection. Where the full refurbishment/demolition scope has not been supplied, Elements can only inspect on the basis of the information reasonably available at the time. Opening-up may involve damage to finishes, walls, ceilings, boxing, panels, floors or other building fabric. The client is responsible for ensuring permission has been obtained for such investigation. Elements does not undertake reinstatement unless expressly agreed.
10. Management Surveys
Management Surveys are generally non-destructive other than minor disturbance necessary for inspection and representative sampling. Areas concealed within the fabric of the building may therefore remain uninspected. A Management Survey should not be relied upon as a Refurbishment & Demolition Survey before intrusive refurbishment or demolition work.
11. Reports and Turnaround
Elements aims to issue completed survey reports within the turnaround stated in the quotation or confirmation. Our standard target is within 48--72 hours, subject to laboratory results, access, information required from the client and other circumstances outside our reasonable control. Where a specific guaranteed turnaround has been agreed in writing, that agreement takes precedence.
12. Payment and Release of Documents
Invoices are payable in accordance with the payment terms stated on the invoice or booking confirmation. Unless otherwise agreed in writing, Elements may withhold the final survey report, laboratory certificate or other final deliverables until cleared payment has been received. Payment does not affect the client's statutory rights.
13. Asbestos Removal and Other Services
Elements provides asbestos surveying and sampling services. We do not undertake asbestos removal as part of the surveying service. We do not undertake air monitoring/fibre counting, in-house bulk-sample analysis, fire-risk assessments or soil sampling unless expressly agreed as a separate service.
14. Report Use and Third-Party Reliance
A report is prepared solely for the named client, property, purpose and scope stated in the report. Unless Elements expressly agrees otherwise in writing, no third party may rely upon the report as though it had been prepared for them. The report must be read in its entirety. Individual photographs, sample results, tables, drawings or extracts should not be considered independently of the complete report and its scope and limitations. Where another party requires formal reliance upon an existing report, Elements should be contacted before reliance is placed upon it. Additional inspection or a new survey may be required.
15. Client's Continuing Responsibilities
An asbestos survey is one component of asbestos management. The client/dutyholder remains responsible for complying with applicable legal duties, maintaining and reviewing the asbestos register/management arrangements where applicable, communicating relevant asbestos information to persons liable to disturb affected materials, and arranging further investigation where necessary.
16. Liability
Elements will exercise the reasonable skill and care expected of a competent asbestos surveying practice performing the agreed services. Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits liability where it would be unlawful to do so, including liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation. Subject to those exclusions and to applicable law, Elements' total aggregate liability arising from or in connection with the instructed professional services shall not exceed £1,000,000. Elements maintains Professional Indemnity insurance with a current aggregate limit of £1,000,000, subject to the policy's terms, conditions and exclusions, and Public & Products Liability insurance with a current limit of £5,000,000. Insurance information is provided for information only and does not extend the scope of Elements' contractual liability or confer rights under Elements' insurance policy upon the client or any third party.
17. Indirect and Consequential Loss
To the fullest extent permitted by law, Elements shall not be liable for indirect or consequential loss, or for loss of profit, revenue, business, opportunity, anticipated savings or similar economic loss arising indirectly from the instructed services. This does not exclude liability which cannot lawfully be excluded.
18. Information Supplied by Others
Elements may rely upon plans, drawings, specifications, refurbishment scopes, property information and other information supplied by the client or third parties. We are not responsible for loss arising solely from materially inaccurate, incomplete or misleading information supplied to us where it was reasonable for us to rely upon that information.
19. Cancellation, Rescheduling and Abortive Visits
Clients should notify Elements as soon as reasonably possible if an appointment needs to be cancelled or rearranged. Where a surveyor attends but cannot undertake or complete the instructed work because access has not been arranged, keys are unavailable, necessary permission has not been obtained, the property is unsafe, or another circumstance within the client's reasonable control prevents the survey, Elements reserves the right to charge a reasonable abortive attendance or rescheduling fee. Any such charge will reflect the circumstances and costs reasonably incurred.
20. Complaints
If a client is dissatisfied with our service, they should contact Elements promptly so that the matter can be investigated. Complaints should be sent to Elements Surveying Group Limited at enquiries@asbestossurveyingandtesting.com or by telephone on 0208 036 1099.
21. Governing Law
These Terms and any dispute or claim arising from them or the services supplied by Elements are governed by the laws of England and Wales. The courts of England and Wales shall have jurisdiction, subject to any mandatory rights available to consumers.
22. Changes to These Terms
Elements may update these Terms periodically. The Terms applicable to an instruction are those supplied or made available when the instruction is accepted, unless a subsequent variation is agreed in writing.